Melbourne Rebels Irish hooker Tom Sexton ruled out for Super Rugby season with knee injury

MELBOURNE Rebels have suffered a devastating pre-season blow with the long-term loss of Irish recruit Tom Sexton.

Sexton will not feature for the Rebels this season.

MELBOURNE Rebels have suffered a devastating pre-season blow with the long-term loss of recruit Tom Sexton.

The powerful hooker has injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the entire 2014 Super Rugby season.

Lured back to Melbourne from Leinster, Sexton was recruited to replaced Ged Robinson, who has returned to New Zealand to chase All Black honours.

But a training injury has cruelly thwarted Sexton's hopes.

"Obviously it is a very big disappointment to lose somebody of Tom's on-field ability," Rebels coach Tony McGahan said.

"He has been impressing everybody with his commitment to training and his ability to acclimatise to the warm weather we have been experiencing.

"Tom's personality around the club has already seen him emerge as a favourite of the playing group, and the manner in which he has responded to this setback speaks volumes of Tom as a man.

"Tom joined the club on a two-year deal, and we are still committed to helping Tom play Super Rugby for the club in the future; it will just take a little longer than we originally thought."

Sexton will be used in a non-playing capacity on game day.

Melbourne will replace Sexton in its squad. Teenaged Melbourne University forward Moli Sooaemalelagi is among the prospective candidates.